The local elections slate for General Assembly seats is coming together, and Marcia Price was the only Democrat who put in for retiring Del. Mamye BaCote's seat in Newport News.

Given the 95th District's Democratic tendencies — and the absence, at least for now, of Republican or other competition — Price has excellent odds for the open seat.

Price, Newport News Mayor McKinley Price's daughter, said she was a little surprised by the lack of candidates.

"But I know that we came out strong and we had a lot of momentum," she said.

State Sen. John Miller, D-Newport News, will face a challenger this year, but not the one he expected. One-time Republican candidate John Bloom said late last week that he missed filing a candidacy form and will focus instead on campaigning for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who is running for president.

Newport News DUI attorney Mark Matney will represent Republicans in this race. He's making his first foray into elected politics. He joined the race late and said Tuesday that he is still developing his platform.

Miller's district leans Democratic, and likely won't be in the top tier of Senate races as the parties fight for control of the chamber. Republicans hold a narrow majority there now, and the chamber is all the more important for Democrats, given the GOP's vice-grip control in the House of Delegates.

Miller doesn't plan to take chances. He released a list of 38 campaign steering committee members Friday, a list that includes a number of area business and political leaders.

Much attention will be paid to the Peninsula's two swing House districts. Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News, had the most expensive House of Delegates race in the state two years ago in the 94th District. He has a challenge this year from Newport News School Board member Shelly Simonds, a Democrat who joined this race late last summer.

Freshman Del. Monty Mason, D-Williamsburg, will defend his 93rd District seat against Lara Overy, a Williamsburg Republican making her first attempt at elected office.

Mason's seat has gone back and forth between Republicans and Democrats over the last several cycles. Phil Hamilton was the last person to hold it for more than one term.

None of the Peninsula's other House or Senate seats were contested as of Tuesday afternoon, and last Thursday was the deadline to turn in, or mail, campaign forms to the state Board of Elections and be on the ballot for the June 9 primary elections.

Candidates don't have to be on that ballot to get elected in November, though, so new challengers can still crop up. For candidates in firehouse elections or other nominating methods, as well as for independent candidates, the filing deadline doesn't come until June 9.